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She might not have brought her daughter here and served her up to Donika on a silver platter, but she was the reason Diana was even in Istmere in the first place. Placed right beneath Donika’s nose.

Donika couldn’t chase her to the mortal realm. Diana was safe there. If she had never come to Istmere to search for answers, she would still be back in Silver Oaks. She would still besafe.

The error and blame here fell squarely on Annelise’s shoulders.

“So, Nikolai and his friend. Who else?” she asked.

“We still have Theo and Ezra. They will help with the plan. I have to be careful with Avery—she might not swing towards our side any longer. And, of course, the spies from the resistance: Luca, August, and Elijah. We have to be careful with Corian.” His eyes narrowed as the name left his lips.

“That snake?” she asked.

“He stillslithersby her side. He is in her ear at all times, and has climbed the ranks significantly since you have last seenhim,” he replied. “I suspect him of sharing her bed, though I have no proof of that.”

Annelise nodded. “I’ll be sure to not underestimate him.”

“He walks dreams, as Diana does,” Zion told her.

Annelise raised her brow. “A dangerous man, indeed. Did you bring the glamours?”

“Of course,” he replied, turning to rifle through the pack at his back. “I’ll need to get more, but this should suffice for now. Donika doesn’t travel throughout the castle much except the wing with her quarters and the throne room. Be vigilant to avoid those areas.”

“And you’ve secured my position?” she asked, taking one of the vials of glamour liquid and popping the cork stopper, throwing the drink back in one shot.

“Yes. You’ll be on staff in the kitchens. You’ll have access to the soldier’s food and have ample opportunity to drug them. But we need to be careful which potions we choose. We need them to make it to their posts and out of Donika’s sight before they collapse. We need to be sure suspicion does not fall on us.”

“It will take some trial and error,” Annelise mused, thoughtful.

In her mind, she raced through the pages of the Kotova grimoire, a number of spells already coming to mind that would suit this jobperfectly.

“I will keep a close eye on Donika, but we should have sometime to perfect the plan. Keep your glamours fresh and let me know the moment you need more. Never cross her path, bird.”

“I understand,” Annelise replied.

She reached out and gave Zion’s rough hand a gentle squeeze.

“I’ve missed you, Zion.”

“I’ve missed you, too. I’ve wanted to see you—I only wish it were under different circumstances,” he replied, squeezing her hand back.

“Me too. Be careful, Zion. I know you remain at her side for now, but the moment she senses the tides are turning, she will turn her back on you, too. History means nothing to Donika when she thinks she has been betrayed.” Annelise’s mouth tightened as she raised her chin.

“Same to you,” he replied, his voice raspy.

Annelise could see out of the corner of her eye that her hair was a duller shade of golden brown, the red and pink undertones almost completely leached from it. Her features felt sharper, her nose longer. Zion handed her a kitchen apron, and she pulled it over her head, tying it in the back to secure it.

She spun with her arms out. “How do I look?”

“Perfect. As always.” His voice was almost… sad.

Zion would love her with any face she wore.

She grabbed her pack and moved towards the tunnel that would lead into the heart of the castle, confident that her glamour would hide her from prying eyes. She needed to get Diana out of the Stormvault as quickly as she could, which meant she needed to get to work perfecting her potions.

She turned back towards Zion with a soft smile on her lips, beckoning him to follow her.

“It’s time to go save the realm.”

Akra, Istmere